Fluoridation Celebrates 75 Years

Fluoridation Celebrates 75 Years

This year marks the 75th year of Community Water Fluoridation (CWF). All water sources contain some natural fluoride, but adjusting the amount allows teeth to remain healthy and strong.

Water fluoridation is a form of prevention that benefits everyone in a community while cutting down on costs. For every dollar spent on adding fluoride to tap water, $20 is returned by reducing the need for costly dental treatment.

More than 20 nations add fluoride to their drinking water as a way to reduce dental cavities among children and adults. According to the American Fluoridation Society, drinking fluoridated water reduces tooth decay by 25% for adults and children. Water fluoridation was deemed “one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century,” by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.